Plumbing fixture



Aug. 7, 1928.

F. J. clam-REL;

PLUMBING FIXTURE Filed A ril 26, 1924 Jmmnta! I FRANK d. CANTRE'LL.

Patented Aug. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES FRANK J. CANTRELL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PLUMBING FIXTURE.

Application filed April 26, 1924. Serial No. 709.310.

This invention relates to a plumbing fixture and especially to anattachment for bathroom showers and the like, whereby soap suds may beproduced.

The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplifythe construction and operation of fixtures of the character described;to provide a fixture which may be interposed between the water pipes andthe shower in a bathroom in such a position that the water will passtherethrough before discharging from the shower; to provide a fixture ofthis character in which is formed a chamber, said chamber adapted toreceive a soap receptacle; to provide means for rotating the receptacleand to pass water therethrough so as to form soap suds which may bedischarged through the shower; and further, to provided means forby-passing the water around the soap receptacle and directly to theshower when rinse water is desired.

One form which my invention may as sume is exemplified in the followingdescription and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig,1 is an end view of the fixture.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical cross-section taken on line 22 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section taken on line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4: is a rear elevation of the fixture.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to ,Figs. 1, 2 and3, A indicates, in general, a fixture which is adapted to be interposedbetween the water pipes in a bathroom and a shower. This fixture issubstantially cylindrical in shape, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and therear portion thereof is provided with a rectangular shaped extension orrib 2 in which is formed a valve passage. Disposed in the valve passageis a valve 3 and this is provided with a handle 4 whereby it may beoperated. The rib 2, is also provided with an extension 5 whereby aconnection may be made between the water pipes and the shower. The ribor projection 2 is otherwise provided with a pair of passages such asindicated at 6 and 7, the passage 6 leading to a central chamber 8,while the passage 7 is connected with a dis charge passage 9 to which ashower 10 is attached in any suitable manner.

The chamber 8 is cylindrical in cross-section and elongated. It isclosed at one end by a permanent head member 11, and it is closed at itsopposite end by a removable screw cover, 12. Mounted interior of thechamber 8 is a cylindrical shaped soap receptacle generally indicated at13. This receptacle is journalled to rotate and it is perforated at aplurality of points as shown at 14 to permit water to passtherethrough,as will hereinafter be described,

The sides of the perforations are bent outwardly, as shown at 15, toform buckets or impellers against which the water strikes when enteringthrough the passage 6. The impulse thus obtained directs the water intothe soap receptacle and it, at the same time, rotates the same at afairly high speed. A cake of soap or the like such as indicated at 16when placed within the receptacle will thus be churned about to such anextent that soap suds will be formed and these will discharge throughthe passage 9 and through the shower 10.

The soap receptacle is provided with a pin 17 at one end. This pinextends into the permanent head 11 and is ournalled therein. Theopposite endof the soap receptacle is flanged as shown at 18. Thisflange is supported by an annular inner flange 19 formed on the screwcap 12 and this flange serves as a. bearing for the opposite end of thesoap receptacle. The hearings or journals thus formed permit freerotation of the soap receptacle and the soap suds produced serve as asuflicient lubricant to prevent binding or material resistance as far asthe bearings are concerned. The screw cover is otherwise provided with awindow or opening 20 and it "is therefore easy to determine whet-her itis necessary to insert a new cake of soap or not, as the case may be.

The valve 3 is a two-Way valve. By turning it to the position shown inFig. 2, water will enter through the passage 6. The force of thedischarging jet is more than suflicient to impel and rotate the soapreceptable and as the impellers 15 direct the water inwardly soap sudsare formed by the direct action of the water against the soap cake andby the continuous rotation of the same. The water after passing throughthe chamber 8 and the soap receptacle discharges through the passage 9and finally through the shower 10. Thus, when a person is taking a bathit is not necessary to handle the soap as suflicient suds for a wash orbath are obtained by merely directing the water through the upperpassage 6. When it is desired to rinse off the soap, it is onlynecessary to turn the valve so that the water will be directed throughthe passage 7. It is thus by-passed around the soap receptacle and ispassed directly to the shower and as such may be used as rinse water. Ifit is desired to shut off the water entirely, the position of valve 3 iscompletely reversed. It is accomplished by completely reversin theposition of the valve 3 or by shutting off the valves with which thepipes are usually equipped; that is, most shower installations areprovided with two valves, one for hot water and one for cold water.These valves direct the water to a common pipe which is connected withthe shower and this pipe would in this instance be connected wi theextension 5; thus, it is possible to pass either cold or warm waterthrough the shower or a mixture of the same, and it is not necessary todepend entirely upon the action of the valve 3 to regulate the flow.

The device is particularly handy when shower baths are considered as itentirely eliminates the usual form of soap receptacles and avoids thenecessity of stooping down to the floor to recover the soap, as isusually the case.

The device may be attached to a vertical overhead shower or to ahorizontal shower and as such may be installed wherever convenient. Itmight furthermore be stated that its use is not limited to bathrooms, asit may also be used in connection with a kitchen sink for washingdishes; that is, the shower is placed in a vertical position when soused and the water is turned on with just sufficient force to produce afountain like effect. The dishes may then be washed directly in thisfountain and a dish-pan or the like is entirely obviated.

l/Vhile certain features of the present invention are more or lessspecifically illustrated, I wish it understood that various changes inform and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims. I similarly wish it understood that the materials and finish ofthe several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment ofthe manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patentis 1. In a fixture of the character described, having acylindrical chamber formed therein, a head member forming a permanentclosure for one end of the cylindrical chamber, a removable head memberforming a closure for the opposite end of said cylindrical chamber, acylindrical shaped soap receptaclev insertible in said cylindricalchamber, a head member on one end of the soap receptacle, a pin thereonextending into the fixed head of the cylindrical chamber and forming ajournal or support therefor, an annular flange on the opposite end ofthe soap receptacle, and an annular flange on the removable head memberforming a sup port and journal for the soap receptacle flange, impellermembers formed on the exterior surface of the soap receptacle and waterinlet and outlet connections formed on the casing in communication withthe interior casing and the soap receptacle, said inlet connectionhaving an inlet passage communicating with the soap receptacle, saidinlet passage being disposed on a tangentwith relation to the impellermembers so as to rotate the receptacle when Water is pass ing throughthe casing.

52. In a fixture of the character described, having a cylindricalchamber formed therein and a tangentially disposed inlet passage, a headmember forming a permanent closure for one end of the cylindricalchamber, a removable head member forming a closure for the opposite endof said cylindrical chamber, a cylindrical shaped soap receptacleinsertible in said cylindrical chamber, a head member on one end of thesoap receptacle, a pin thereon extending into the fixed head of thecylindrical chamber and forming a journal or support therefor, anannular flange on the opposite end of the soap receptacle, and anannular flange on the removable head member forming a support andjournal for the soap receptacle flange.

3. In a fixture of the character described, a soap receptacle comprisinga cylindrical shaped member closed at one end with a fixed head, a pinon said head about which the soap receptacle is adapted to rotate, saidsoap receptacle being open'at its opposite end and having an outwardlyturned annular flange, a cone shaped bearing member telescoping withsaid annular flange and forming a support therefor, said soap receptaclebeing perforated, and impelling members projecting from the exteriorsurface of the soap receptacle.

FRANK J, CANTRELL.

